I hadn’t realized I felt that way till I said it out loud.

Mum narrows her eyes. ‘So . . . about normal. I need to talk to you about something. Someone. Your father. And it’s not bad news, by the way. Or good. It’s whatever you want it to be.’

‘You’re not making sense, Mum.’

‘Dan came to see me, first thing this morning.’

‘When I was asleep?’ Knowing I missed him makes my stomach clench like someone’s punched me.

‘He didn’t come inside, but we talked and . . . It’s your decision, Casey, but he wants to talk to you too.’

‘What about?’ The sharp pain in my belly has turned into a sick feeling, because I don’t think I can survive being disappointed by him again.

‘The future. And the past, too – why he lied about the flat and other stuff.’

‘Won’t he keep lying, though?’

She puts the brush down. ‘I’ve been quite hard on him this month. You thought that, didn’t you?’

I shrug. She’s my mum and I am loyal to her first. ‘He deserved it.’

‘I think he’s learned his lesson. He’s waiting downstairs, in the lobby, if you want to see him. But it’s down to you.’

‘He’s here now?’

Everything tingles, like I’ve dived into a swimming pool full of sherbet. I don’t even think about it. I rush out of the changing room, along the corridors and down the stairs, and I can hear Mum’s sandals slapping on the floor behind me; and I’m in reception and there he is, under the sculpture, and I can’t help myself: I run towards my dad because whatever he’s done, he’s the only dad I’ve got, and I was so scared I might never see him again.

But deep down, I think I knew he couldn’t – wouldn’t – let me down.

He lifts me up like I’m five years old.

‘Casey, I’m so, so sorry. If you can forgive me, I will never lie to you ever again. You can ask me anything, and I promise to be honest.’

When he lets me go, I try to look stern. ‘OK. Why did you pretend you lived in the penthouse? And what were you going to do after Vijay moved back in?’

His forehead crinkles and he already looks like he’s about to make something up. ‘Well, the thing is . . .’

‘You literally promised not to lie, thirty seconds ago.’

He pulls a face. ‘OK. I honestly thought you’d be fed up with me long before the four weeks were up. Plus, I wanted to give you all the things you’d missed out on over the years. Including the fancy city pad you thought was mine when you found me online.’

‘You’re saying you thought I was totally shallow?’

‘My mistake. One of thousands of mistakes. But if you give me another chance, I’ll make up for them. I don’t want to be your movie dad. I want to be the real thing. I want to embarrass you with my clothes and music. I want to protect you from bad hairdressers and bad boyfriends like Harrison.’